ISO 15754:2009

Paper and board — Determination of z-directional tensile strength

ISO 15754:2009 specifies a method for the determination of z-directional tensile strength, i.e. the tensile strength in the z-direction. It is applicable to paper and board, but not applicable to corrugated fibreboard.

Papier et carton — Détermination de la force de traction dans la direction z

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 10-Mar-2009
• ICS: 85.060 - Paper and board
• Technical Committee: ISO/TC 6/SC 2 - Test methods and quality specifications for paper and board
• Drafting Committee: ISO/TC 6/SC 2 - Test methods and quality specifications for paper and board
• Current Stage: 9093 - International Standard confirmed
• Start Date: 10-Jul-2025
• Completion Date: 12-Feb-2026

Overview

ISO 15754:2009 specifies a laboratory method for determining the z-directional tensile strength of paper and board - the tensile strength perpendicular to the paper plane. The procedure measures the maximum force required to pull a test piece apart in the z-direction using a tensile-testing apparatus and double-sided adhesive tape. The standard is applicable to paper and board (but not to corrugated fibreboard) and includes sampling, conditioning, apparatus, calibration, test procedure and reporting requirements.

Key topics and technical requirements

• Scope and limitations
  • Applies to paper and board; not applicable to corrugated fibreboard.
  • Results for papers with grammage < 60 g/m² should be treated with caution (tape reinforcement effect).
• Principle
  • A specimen is bonded between two platens with double-sided tape, compressed, then strained to failure in the z-direction while recording peak force.
• Apparatus
  • Compression device to apply (1.4 ± 0.1) MPa for (6 ± 1) s.
  • Tensile-testing apparatus with force accuracy ±2% and dynamic performance adequate to capture peak force.
  • Two flat tester platens with test area (645 ± 10) mm² or (1000 ± 10) mm²; platens must be stiff and parallel (parallelism tolerance and vertical alignment specified).
  • Double-sided adhesive tape stronger than the sample (tape quality and ageing affect results).
• Calibration and test speed
  • Stress of 500 kPa must be reached in (200 ± 20) ms - the test speed is set so this condition is met for the platen size used.
• Procedure and data handling
  • Clean platens with solvent; condition specimens per ISO 187; use at least five valid tests.
  • Discard tests where failure occurs between tape and platen or tape and specimen; replace tape if ≥20% invalid results.
• Calculation and precision
  • Mean z-directional tensile strength calculated from the mean maximum force and the platen area (reported in kPa to three significant figures).
  • Interlaboratory CVs reported (example repeatability CVs ≈ 3.7–5.3%); reproducibility limits given for sample types.

Applications

• Quality control and acceptance testing for paper and board materials.
• Evaluation of internal bond strength, ply adhesion and through-thickness strength in product development.
• Comparative testing of different papers, boards and adhesive/tape effects in manufacturing and R&D.

Who uses this standard

• Paper and board manufacturers
• Independent testing and standards laboratories
• Packaging converters and material qualification teams
• R&D engineers developing paper-based products

Related standards

• ISO 186 - Paper and board: Sampling to determine average quality
• ISO 187 - Standard atmosphere for conditioning and testing
• ISO/TR 24498 (referenced for precision guidance)

Keywords: ISO 15754:2009, z-directional tensile strength, paper testing, paper and board, internal bond strength, Scott Bond, tensile-testing apparatus, tester platens, adhesive tape.

Standards Content (Sample)

INTERNATIONAL ISO
STANDARD 15754
First edition
2009-03-15
Paper and board — Determination of
z-directional tensile strength
Papier et carton — Détermination de la force de traction dans la
direction z
Reference number
©
ISO 2009
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ii © ISO 2009 – All rights reserved

Contents Page
Foreword. iv
Introduction . v
1 Scope . 1
2 Normative references . 1
3 Terms and definitions. 1
4 Principle. 1
5 Apparatus . 2
6 Calibration . 2
6.1 General. 2
6.2 Checking. 2
6.3 Test speed setting . 3
7 Sampling and preparation of test pieces . 3
7.1 Sampling. 3
7.2 Conditioning. 3
7.3 Preparation of test pieces. 3
8 Procedure . 3
8.1 Mounting a test piece between the tester platens. 3
8.2 Measurements. 4
9 Calculation. 4
10 Precision. 5
10.1 Repeatability. 5
10.2 Reproducibility. 5
11 Test report . 5
Annex A (informative) The influence of the tape quality on the results . 6
Bibliography . 7

Foreword
ISO (the International Organization for Standardization) is a worldwide federation of national standards bodies
(ISO member bodies). The work of preparing International Standards is normally carried out through ISO
technical committees. Each member body interested in a subject for which a technical committee has been
established has the right to be represented on that committee. International organizations, governmental and
non-governmental, in liaison with ISO, also take part in the work. ISO collaborates closely with the
International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) on all matters of electrotechnical standardization.
International Standards are drafted in accordance with the rules given in the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2.
The main task of technical committees is to prepare International Standards. Draft International Standards
adopted by the technical committees are circulated to the member bodies for voting. Publication as an
International Standard requires approval by at least 75 % of the member bodies casting a vote.
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of patent
rights. ISO shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
ISO 15754 was prepared by Technical Committee ISO/TC 6, Paper, board and pulps, Subcommittee SC 2,
Test methods and quality specifications for paper and board.
iv © ISO 2009 – All rights reserved

Introduction
This International Standard has been developed in order to specify the conditions for determining the
z-directional tensile strength of paper and board, i.e. the tensile strength in the z-direction.
The terminology for the strength of paper in the thickness direction is not well defined. Terms such as
z-directional tensile strength, Scott Bond, internal bond strength, internal fibre bond strength, ply adhesion and
ply bond strength are used, depending on the measurement procedure, on the type of sample tested and on
the purpose of the measurement.

INTERNATIONAL STANDARD ISO 15754:2009(E)

Paper and board — Determination of z-directional tensile
strength
1 Scope
This International Standard specifies a method for the determination of z-directional tensile strength, i.e. the
tensile strength in the z-direction. It is applicable to paper and board, but not applicable to corrugated
fibreboard.
For papers, the grammage range can not be stated explicitly, but results for papers having a grammage less
than 60 g/m shall be treated with caution since the tape may reinforce the paper.
This International Standard does not determine the absolute strength of paper as the measurement is affected
by the tape, the pressing conditions and the speed used.
2 Normative references
The following referenced documents are indispensable for the application of this document. For dated
references, only the edition cited applies. For undated references, the latest edition of the referenced
document (including any amendments) applies.
ISO 186, Paper and board — Sampling to determine average quality
ISO 187, Paper, board and pulps — Standard atmosphere for conditioning and testing and procedure for
monitoring the atmosphere and conditioning of samples
3 Terms and definitions
For the purposes of this document, the following terms and definitions apply.
3.1
z-direction
direction perpendicular to the plane of the material
3.2
z-directional tensile strength
maximum tensile stress a paper or board can withstand, when it is loaded in the z-direction under the
conditions described in this International Standard
4 Principle
A test piece, attached to and between two flat metal plates using double-sided adhesive tape and given
pressure for a specified time, is strained to break during a given time of loading, using a tensile-testing
apparatus that records the maximum tensile force in the z-direction.
5 Apparatus
5.1 Compression device, for bonding the tape to the test piece and to the tester platens, with a
compression force corresponding to (1,4 ± 0,1) MPa.
5.2 Tensile-testing apparatus, having a tensile force measuring device, reading to an accuracy of ± 2 %
across the range of the load cell.
NOTE A force measuring device with a maximum capacity of 1 kN has been found to be suitable.
The dynamic performance of the testing instrument is a critical parameter in this test where a peak force shall
be determined within a very short time. Care shall be taken on the sampling rate and the force signal filtering
which includes the mechanical design of the instrument in use. It is the task of the manufacturer of the testing
instrument to provide a testing instrument that can capture the peak force with sufficient accuracy.
The tensile-testing apparatus shall have a drive unit which
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